A Cannabis Christmas

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This is the most wonderful time of the year! I love the holidays! Now that pot is legal in my state, I’ve created a new, cannabis tradition for the elves on my nice list who partake in enjoying marijuana that live here in the Rocky Mountains- stockings stuffed with edibles from my favorite Colorado companies.

At the bottom of the stocking I’ve put a container of Love’s Oven S’more Brownies. The perfect treat with hot cocoa! These bite size cannabis edibles provide an upbeat, energetic high.

This year I discovered Zoots products. I love them and highly recommend them. So, I am putting as many of their items in everybody’s stocking as possible. Zoots Rocks, in the hard to find caramel flavor, is a crowd favorite. These suckers are the best out there for a happy high filled with energy. My local dispensary is now offering Zootbites Snickerdoodle Cookies. They have 5mg per cookie and come in packs of two. I haven’t tried these yet, but I know that everyone will love them. I splurged and also picked up ZootsDrops High Energy Blend Yipee Ki-Yay Mandarin Lime Drops. These wonderful drops provide liquid doses of THC into the beverage of your choice. They would be delicious in hot, spiced, apple cider.

Finally, I am THRILLED to purchase Pot-Rox for this year’s stockings. Pot-Rox are Pop Rocks with THC. They come in 10mg pouches in Tropical Twist and Berry Blast flavors. After a year reviewing so many gummy edibles, it’s exciting to see fun, different edibles!

The stockings are ready and filled with yummy products. They are all set to give out. And I know that everyone will be psyched to get their treats.

I hope your holiday is filled with joy and some new edibles too!

May the new year be a happy, healthy year for all!

Big Pete’s Cannabis-Infused Mini Cookies Review

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Big Pete’s Cannabis-infused mini cookies are billed as “Cookies That Treat You Right”. They come in CBD, Indica & Sativa types. For some reason the Indica comes with ten (10) cookies, each with 10mg of THC and the Sativa comes with six (6)  cookies, each with 10mg of THC.

Taste

For this review, I tried the Peanut Butter flavor of the Sativa and the Cinnamon & Sugar flavor of the Indica.

Big Petes Sativa Cannabis-Infused Mini Cookies

The Peanut Butter smells and tastes like a typical peanut butter cookie – chewy yet dry – that is packed with cannabis. Same goes for the Indica Cinnamon Sugar mini cookie, a great cookie taste with the cannabis butter taste alongside it. While you can get away with eating these cookies without liquid, some coffee, almond milk, or tea to go with them is a welcome addition.

Taking a whiff from the bag smells like someone put peanut butter cookies into a quarter ounce bag of primo weed. Or that you have a piece of cinnamon toast in your stash, so it can both give you and cure your munchies.

You know these are well infused when the cannabis smell is this pronounced. I think they smell great. I found the thc taste from the cannabis butter was pronounced as well. They are not trying to cover up the taste but let it blend with the flavors of the cookies.

I think Big Pete’s achieves a very good balance between the cannabis and the other flavors, as I don’t mind the subtle, slightly grassy taste of cannabis butter.

Ingredients & Packaging

They do contain butter and eggs so they are not vegan and the nuts are an issue for folks with allergies. I like that most of the ingredients are ones that I use in cooking myself, not a lot of extra chemicals or preservatives. Big Pete’s says they use a slow-cook method to make their cannabutter which gives a full spectrum effect.

Packaging is mercifully easy to open, with a tear strip that exposes a two-hand resealable closure similar to many child-safe pouches. There are helpful graphics on the package to help users get the bag open.

Effects

The effects seem to run true to the type, so I couldn’t be happier. Trying a Sativa cookie after breakfast gave me the focus, uplift and energy to run around and get a lot accomplished by noon. This is just what I want and expect from a Sativa cannabis edible. During my errands there may have been an extra stop to buy a few unnecessary but very pretty things, but those happen even when being elevated isn’t involved.

I had some caffeine at lunch and didn’t eat a lot – although I did have the munchies – so the effects continued even after lunch, a total of about 5 hours worth of effects, although they did start to fade after about 4 hours.

BigPetesGingerIndicaTreats

With the Indica, I tried them in the evening since I am pretty sensitive to Indica effects . Within an hour I found them nicely relaxing but not to the point of couch-lock. I flirted with groggy but was able to maintain a relaxed alertness. After 2 hours, my eyelids did start to feel heavier. Being active became less and less attractive. I could see taking these on a winter weekend afternoon for binge watching TV curled up on the couch. I eventually headed off to dreamland nicely chilled out.

I think Big Pete’s makes some great cannabis edibles. I appreciate that they are Sativa/Indica type specific. I would love it if they would share which strain or strains they use. This is a very good tasting cannabis mini cookie that provides consistent, predictable results. Definitely worth the calories and a wonderful way to elevate.

The first time I tested Big Pete’s Cannabis Infused Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies, the complete body high was so amazing I didn’t feel like writing any review notes. It was a strong, intense buzz that very few edibles can compete with. I loved it. Happily, I tried these cookies again with the serious intention to write a glowing product review.

Big Petes Indica Cinnamon & Sugar Cannabis Infused Mini Cookies

Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies are Indica strain cannabis infused edibles. Each cookie has 10mg of THC. The cookie itself is approximately a 2 inch circle.I took my regular dose of 40mg or four 10mg cookies. But I warn you, these Indica cookies will get you VERY high. So the first time you try Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Cookies, I encourage you to take a smaller dose than usual. If you are a beginner, be conservative and try half a cookie.

The Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies have the perfect combination of spices. Big Pete’s got the texture right, crunchy in the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. (I hate dry, crumbly cannabis edibles.) There was a faint medicinal taste, but it doesn’t take away from the traditional flavors of the cookies.

After an hour and fifteen minutes, the buzz started ramping up and got very strong. I became very relaxed and settled down to feel the complete body high.  I was keening aware of my heartbeat in my ears. At some points, it was difficult to get my eyes to focus. I spent 95% of the time chilling in my chair, just hanging out, which is normal for an Indica edible.The buzz lasted for 2 hours. Then slowly decreased little by little until I became clearheaded and sober.

I highly recommend Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies. I love their strength. You should buy them right away! These are definitely my favorite THC cookies on the market.

Taste: 8

Strength: 9

Website: https://bigpetestreats.com/

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops Cannabis Beverage Review

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Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops cannabis-infused beverages are hop-flavored sparkling water infused with cannabis. Hops is best known for its use in flavoring beer and in herbal medicine. This “drinkable” comes in two formulas, one is infused with 10mg of THC, the other has 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD in the 12 oz. can. Zero alcohol, zero calories, zero carbs and vegan as far as I can tell.

Lagunitas in Northern California is one of the first beer companies exploring the cannabis edibles / drinkables market, with their partner Absolute Extracts. Absolute Extracts, well known for their strain-specific cartridges, provides the THC and CBD used.

Hi-fi Hops Lagunitas Cannabis Infused Hoppy Sparkling Water

Packaging

Hi-Fi Hops comes in a standard sized aluminum beverage can with a child-proof opening mechanism. The can is resealable, which is great for just trying a little or if you find half or a quarter of a can provides your desired effects. You “pop” open one side, then you slide the plastic lid over to reveal an opening. The lid locks open so it can stay open, or you can slide it back and re-lock it to reseal it.

Dosing & Taste

I first tried the 10mg THC product in the purple can. With new edibles or drinkables I always start with half of my usual dose, which for me is 5mg. The first time I tried Hi-Fi Hops I drank half the can then waited to see what effects I experienced taking 5mg. I drank it on a half-full stomach in the afternoon and I could start to feel the effects within an hour. Effects lasted four hours and indicated a full dose would be appropriate to try.

As soon as you open the can, you get a wonderful citrusy + THC smell. It almost smells like some the flower strains that have the aroma and taste of citrus, such as Clementine, Tangie, Lemon Haze and others.

At first it does taste like a very hoppy lite beer. It’s similar to a watered-down version of beer, like Budweiser or Schlitz or one of the mass produced American beers, but without the alcohol. It’s funny how the taste of one beer ingredient – hops – can fool your taste buds into thinking it is beer. I definitely noticed the absence of the alcohol taste after a few swigs.

From the citrus smell, I was expecting the taste to be more like a lemon lime seltzer. It tastes a little like that, but the hops/beer flavor definitely is stronger. I’m not a big fan of beer so the hops taste, while inoffensive, is not something I love. I do love citrus flavors, so I wish the flavor profile was stronger on the other citrus and not so hops forward.

Effects

As with many edibles, this product is not labeled Indica or Sativa, so I was not sure what to expect from the effects. I did some research on hops.

Hi-fi Hops Lagunitas Cannabis-Infused sparkling water

Hops can have an effect similar to Indica and Valerian. According to Wikipedia “Hops may be used in herbal medicine in a way similar to valerian, as a treatment for anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. A pillow filled with hops is a popular folk remedy for sleeplessness, and animal research has shown a sedative effect.”

Knowing this, it’s a good assumption that this will have an effect similar to an Indica edible. Expect to feel relaxed, there might be couch-lock involved, depending on how you react. I wouldn’t expect to be too focused or productive. This isn’t like strong coffee or an energy drink you would take to perk up. If anything this might perk you down.

After my initial test dose indicated that the effects of the drink were mild for me, I tried a full dose, 10mg or one can. Initial effects for me were relaxation and Indica-type effects of a heavy head. I was concerned the effects would be the same as a depressant like alcohol at first. Then the heavy head went away and the relaxation stayed.

I experienced a good solid body effect, like I would expect from a strain that is good for relaxing the body without drowsiness. The head was not spacey or spaced out, I was able to make dinner without a problem. I was no more clumsy or forgetful than usual. I did under-cook the pasta a bit, but nothing more catastrophic. I did not experience a strong increase in my senses as I have with some edibles. A slight uplift in mood was a pleasant addition to the effects.

Just as some folks like a beer after work to relax, this would be appropriate for that time of day or whenever you want to relax and unwind. I found it perfect for dinner and a movie without the couch lock or passing out.

Strength: 8

Flavor: 6

Website: https://lagunitas.com/hifihops

EdiPure Tie Dye Cannabis Georgia Peach Gummies Review

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There are a lot of cannabis infused gummies on the market. A lot. My local, small town dispensary has between 4-5 varieties of gummies at any given time.

Last time I went edible shopping, I was talking with my budtender about how gummy flavors seemed to be mainly watermelon and berry. She immediately showed me Tie Dye Gummies in Georgia Peach Flavor. I was instantly sold! I happily purchased a container, as well as some other yummy edibles and went on my way.

Tie Dye Gummies Georgia Peach

These gummies are surprisingly a cloudy, off white color. They are one inch square pieces. Each lightly sugared dose contains 10mg of THC. Since my budtender said these were good, but not super strong, I felt confident in taking my regular dose of 40mg.

Tie Dye Gummies in Georgia Peach bring back memories of visiting old relative’s homes and how they’d offer orange fruit jelly slices to us. The Tye Dye Gummies were similar in consistency to that old fashioned candy; firm on the outside and soft in the middle.

Tie Dye Gummies Georgia Peach flavor are VERY peachy. Although the edibles are vegan, gluten fee, and organic- these might be the sweetest cannabis infused gummies I have ever eaten. Perhaps too sweet.

After about 50 minutes I started to feel a light buzz. My energy was slightly increased. There were no jitters. I waited for the initial high to increase which it never did. So I increased my dosage by another 10mg. The high never got stronger.

Tie Dye Gummies provide a light buzz and are very sweet. These marijuana edibles give an small, energetic buzz with a slight heady high.

If you are a beginner with edibles and are worried about products that are too strong for a newbie, these Georgia Peach Gummies are perfect for you. If you are looking for a strong high sensation, Tie Dye Gummies are not for you. Even after increasing my dosage, the buzz was minor.

I wouldn’t buy these again, but I know people who would prefer this edible’s weaker effects. Like my budtender said, they are good, but not super strong.

Taste: 8

Strength: 3

Website: https://www.edipure.com/gallery

Kiva Cannabis-Infused Chocolate Bars Review

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Kiva is one of the most widely available, well known brands of cannabis edibles with a long history and more than a few awards. Kiva Bars come in eight different flavors, either dark chocolate or milk chocolate. The dark chocolate flavors are vegetarian and vegan friendly as they contain no dairy or other animal products. They may contain traces of milk or nuts from manufacturing, but all are gluten-free. Most of the flavors have only THC in them, two flavors have both THC and CBD.

As regular readers know, I greatly prefer edibles that are made either from similar types of cannabis (Indica, Sativa or Hybrid) and my preference is for edibles that are strain-specific (Blue Dream, Sour Diesel, Gorilla Glue, etc.) and labeled as such. Many edible makers like Kiva, use a mixture of types of cannabis, so while they can be considered “Hybrid”, there is no way to know what strains were used, so the effects are more of a muddle.

Dosing

As always, if it is your first time trying this brand start with a small dose, wait two hours and then judge the effects to determine if you want to increase your dosage.

Kiva Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cannabis Infused BarsThe bar I tried has 100mg total in the bar and it is scored to make it easy to break off 5mg pieces I am an experienced user of cannabis edibles and I know my usual dose is 10mg of THC, so I began by having a 5mg piece and waited to judge the effects. Within an hour I felt a little bit of an effect. After two hours the effects were mild, so I felt comfortable taking another 5mg dose to bring me up to my usual preferred strength.

Taste

For this review I tried the Blackberry Dark Chocolate flavor. This flavor won the 2013 Best Edible at the San Francisco & Los Angeles High Times Cannabis Cups.

I like that Kiva uses natural flavors and as soon as you open the package you get a distinctive blackberry and chocolate smell. The flavor is a good strong dark chocolate flavor with a nice natural blackberry flavor. The combination does a good job of covering up the THC taste, which is hardly noticeable in the background. I can usually taste THC and there is a hint of it in the aftertaste, but generally it is well masked by the flavors.

They have a smooth, chocolatey taste that is not too sweet and melts well. Keep these bars out of your pocket, a hot car or other warm place unless you want a melted mess. Not as gourmet as some edibles like Coda, but definitely a step up from the taste of a Hershey bar.

Effects

My friend June and her partner use a small dose to help with sleep support, so I thought I would try this flavor to see if it had a similar effect.

KIVA Dark Chocolate Blackberry Cannabis Infused BarThe initial effects were mild and more on the Indica side, feeling relaxed and a little tired. Since Kiva uses both Sativa and Indica, for me the effects are a bit schizophrenic. I feel relaxed, then tired, then a bit of uplift, then unmotivated, then creative, then tired again. For me personally this is not the kind of effect I enjoy the most.  I don’t like feeling creative but too relaxed to do anything about it. I don’t like it when my head wants to be productive and my body wants to take a nap.

The first time I tried it was during the day and even at half a does I could feel the Indica effects more than I wanted, so I didn’t even take the other half of a dose for fear of sleeping the day away. For folks who enjoy Indica type effects in the daytime, as it helps them focus or calm anxiety, these effects could be perfect, they just are not what I enjoy.

This Kiva edible is much better as an evening treat or to help with sleep support for someone like me. I tried them in the early evening and I did feel relaxed yet able to stay awake. When I did go to bed I had no problem falling asleep. I would limit my use of these for the late afternoon or evening and everyone experiences different impacts with cannabis edibles.

Kiva Blackberry Dark Chocolate Cannabis Infused Bars have a great taste with natural ingredients and the effects are decently strong. My experience is that they are best for folks who desire Indica-type effects and not good if you are looking for an energetic, uplifted, happy effect. If you are looking for help with anxiety, relaxing or sleep support, this could be a great cannabis edible choice for you.

Strength: 5

Flavor: 6

Website: http://kivaconfections.com/

Pearl Mini Cannabis Infused Vitamin Water Review

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Pearl Mini cannabis-infused vitamin water lets you infuse beverages or food with with a mix of THC and CBD. They call it a food and beverage “mixer”. The small vial of white liquid is made with water, vitamins, THC and CBD cannabis extracts. Each vial of the Mini contains 2.5ml (0.08 fl oz) of liquid containing 10mg of THC and 10mg of CBD.

This mixer has 0 calories, no sugar, fat or cholesterol. As of October 2018, Pearl minis are available in CA and WA, made with SoRSE, which  described by the maker Tarukino Holdings Inc. as “the first and only technology that produces entirely taste- and odor-free cannabis emulsions for infusion of medical and recreational products”.

Pearl20 should be refrigerated after opening and my dispensary keeps it refrigerated to keep it as fresh as possible.

Pearl 20 mini no insert

Taste

Pearl 20 insertThere is a cute little insert card inside the package that says “Pearl is for mixing, not drinking straight. Mix with any of your favorite food or beverages”. This product is meant to spike your choice of beverage or food, not be taken straight.

Pearl20 is meant to be mixed with something, however for purposes of testing, I did take a small taste. While the website says “no weed taste”, that was not my experience of it straight from the container. If you have ever tasted cannabis oil, that is basically what this tastes like to me, plus a bit of a vitamin taste. It is very subtle and most folks wouldnt notice the taste. Pearl20 is not a product to take on its own, like a tincture.

Once mixed into a drink or food, the taste is barely noticeable when added to strongly flavored beverages. If you are very taste sensitive you might taste it in something bland like rice, otherwise it really is practically tasteless when mixed with any but the blandest food and drink.

If you are very sensitive to tastes, it is always wise to choose your beverage carefully. This may not be the time for that delicate jasmine green tea or cucumber-infused water. Something with a stronger taste is called for with this drinkable product. Some good choices for me have been iced coffee with almond milk, a cafe latte with cocoa and/or cinnamon or a cold plant protein drink.

I didn’t try it in food, but again I would look for food with a strong flavor, not add it to anything bland.

I’ve heard that salad dressing is one of the best ways to use THC like this, so you don’t heat it and reduce effectiveness. Maybe it’s time to try that homemade lemon vinaigrette? My favorite is a ginger lime cilantro dressing, so that may be how I try it with food. I’ll post about that separately.

Effect

As I understand it, CBD helps THC work and it also inhibits THC from having its full impact. Since this is a one-to-one (1:1) ratio of THC to CBD, I found the effect not as strong as other 10mg THC products that don’t contain CBD. I do appreciate the extra impact of the CBD, helping to reduce pain caused by inflammation and other benefits.

This is another product that is not labeled with the name of any specific strain or even if the canna is used is Indica, Sativa or a hybrid. The effects were very mild for me, I would guess it was a balanced hybrid as it didn’t not make me sleepy like an Indica or make me want to dance like some Sativas. My experience has been clear-headed, slightly uplifted and also relaxed. Munchies were not too much of a problem as the mild effect was also mild in that department.

Impression

I like how portable the pearl mini is, and it can go without refrigeration for one year until it is open, so it could be a good choice if you’re looking for portability. If you are sensitive to ingesting THC or you are not sure of your tolerance, a product like this can be a good place to start. You could take half of the dose then wait 2 hours to judge the impact if you were not familiar with it. If a mild dose of THC plus some CBD effects is what you are looking for in an edible or drinkable, this could be a great fit.

Choice

I love that you can now decide what food and drinks you want to make cannabis-infused. For beverages you are not limited to the mostly soda- and beer-like drinks that are infused with cannabis, you can infuse your own recipes for ginger honey lemonade, kombucha, even your favorite mocktails!

Even though I love to cook, I have not been one to try making my own edibles. Having a convenient size like this that provides a measured dose makes me more willing to try cooking with it. I hope they make this in an Indica or Sativa version at some point, even better some strain-specific versions.

Pearl 20 mini all

Strength: 6

Flavor: 0

Website:  pearl2o.com